Kyle Tanovitz

Background

About Kyle Tanovitz

I am currently a member of Dr. Anna Krylov’s research group where I am working on my PhD in theoretical and computational chemistry at University of Southern California. As an undergraduate, I was a member of Dr. Andrew Petit’s theoretical chemistry research laboratory at California State University, Fullerton. During my time in Dr. Petit’s laboratory, I mainly worked on a project that was focused on developing structure-photochemical function relationships in photobases. Photobases are compounds that are weak bases in the ground state but transform into strong bases after absorbing light and becoming electronically excited. My work was primarily focused on aromatic heterocycles that contain a single nitrogen atom like quinoline and isoquinoline and aromatic heterocycles that contain multiple ring nitrogen atoms like azaindole and carboline. I used density functional theory to understand how the strength of photobasicity depends on the identity and position of the substituent groups placed on the molecule. The structure-function relationships identified in my work provide significant background for the development of new photocatalysts that utilize photobasicity. I am listed as a coauthor on a paper that was published by the Petit laboratory titled “Structure–Photochemical Function Relationships in Nitrogen-Containing Heterocyclic Aromatic Photobases Derived from Quinoline”. My role in this project was focused on strictly data collection. I am also listed as a coauthor for my contribution to the data collection, data analysis, and the writing process for the paper published by the Petit laboratory entitled “Structure-Photochemical Function Relationships in the Photobasicity of Aromatic Heterocycles Containing Multiple Ring Nitrogen Atoms”. I also collaborated with Dr. Kelvin Billingsley’s laboratory at California State University, Fullerton on a project that is focused on understanding the copper catalyzed oxidation of valine mechanism. My role in this project was to identify possible reaction pathways and to identify any potential intermediates.